Medela Launches Breast Pump Recycling Program

Environmentally friendly mothers who don’t feel like simply throwing their old pumps into a landfill might be faced with whole lot of challenge about what to do with them. Sadly, there have been no programs out there that make it easy for moms to dispose of their pumps, and donating or selling them is hard because of sanitation reasons. After pressure from its consumers, Medela, Inc. has now launched Medela Recycles, which is a program allowing moms to properly recycle their used breastfeeding pumps, and in return, help another mom start her journey to breastfeeding her child.

All pumps recycled through the Medela Recycles program will go toward a donation of hospital-grade Medela Symphony Preemie breast pumps and breastfeeding supplies for the Ronald McDonald House Charities. Medela is teaming up with the Ronald McDonald House Charities to provide new moms who stay in a Ronald McDonald House with the same high-quality equipment they had access to in the hospital. Since almost 40 percent of Ronald McDonald House families will be welcoming babies home from the NICU, Medela hopes that, with the ability to pump while resting at a Ronald McDonald House, the mothers will regain the energy needed to care for a baby in the NICU; and that it will make the transition from the hospital to a Ronald McDonald House easier on the whole family.

Medela hopes this program will help keep 12,000 Medela breast pumps out of landfills, as they are committed to reducing solid waste and to helping protect the environment. Medela, Inc. is not new to working on waste reduction, as they are participants in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) innovative WasteWise Program, the country’s first national voluntary solid waste reduction program. The main purpose of WasteWise is to encourage organizations to reduce municipal solid waste through waste prevention, recycling, and buying or manufacturing recycled products.

About Green Mom

Fredrica Syren, the author and founder of Green-Mom.com, was born in Sweden. Her mother was a classically trained chef who introduced her to many eclectic flavors and skills at a young age. Her mom’s passion for the outdoors and gardening planted the seed for her own love of nature and healthy eating.
She received a degree in journalism and has worked as a print, Internet and broadcasting journalist for many years with big businesses within Europe and the United States. After her mom was diagnosed with terminal cancer and she with pre-cancer, Fredrica changed her career to become a full time yoga teacher and activist. A longtime world traveler, foodie and career woman, she was exposed to many facets of life, but nothing inspired her more than becoming a mom. After her first-born, Fredrica began a food blog focusing on local, seasonal, organic & vegetarian dishes. Years of food blogging developed into the cookbook Yummy in My Tummy, Healthy Cooking for the Whole Family.
Upon the arrival of her second child, Fredrica founded Green-Mom.com. Her vision was to establish a site providing insight about gardening, home and personal care, baby & child, and of course food & nutrition. Green-Mom.com hosts many talented writers shedding light on ways to incorporate eco-friendly and nutritious practices for busy families. She is an advocate for organic, local and sustainable businesses. Fredrica hopes to inspire social change through her lifestyle, passion and business.
Fredrica lives with her husband James Harker-Syren and their three children in San Diego, CA.